Gala Brings Joy to Special Needs Community

 

MIDLAND, TX — Stonegate Fellowship Church in Midland hosted the 6th annual "Love Without Limits" gala on Friday, creating a magical evening for individuals with special needs, just ahead of Valentine's Day.

Love Without Limits transforms the traditional prom night experience for people with special needs, providing them with an opportunity to enjoy a memorable prom celebration. The event, held at Stonegate Fellowship Church, welcomed participants into the main building, where they received crowns before capturing photos with their dates. The highlight of the evening featured participants walking outside to cheers from a supportive crowd, creating a red-carpet experience as they entered the prom venue.

Beyond dancing, Love Without Limits offered a range of activities to make the night extraordinary. Event Organizer Ami Hedges shared, “Every participant is called the king or queen; they're crowned the king or queen. They just have a great night dancing, riding the limousine, horse carriages, and of course, karaoke.”

Love Without Limits Support

Love Without Limits Support

(Credit: Video screen grab from Jason Freund)

Love Without Limits

Love Without Limits

(Credit: Video screen grab from Jason Freund)

Love Without Limits Dance

Love Without Limits Dance

(Credit: Video screen grab from, Jason Freund)

Love Without Limits 2

Love Without Limits 2

(Credit: Video screen grab from Jason Freund)

“The special needs community is one of the most unreached people groups; isn't that crazy? We need to get awareness of not just doing one event, but to be out in the community serving because there are wonderful opportunities to serve the special needs community.”

— Ami Hedges

For many attendees with special needs, Love Without Limits marked their inaugural prom experience. The organizers aim to go beyond a single event and advocate for increased community involvement in serving the special needs community.

Hedges emphasized, “The special needs community is one of the most unreached people groups; isn't that crazy? We need to get awareness of not just doing one event, but to be out in the community serving because there are wonderful opportunities to serve the special needs community.”

The impact extends beyond the attendees themselves, resonating with parents who witness their children enjoying a night they will cherish forever. Hedges expressed gratitude for the parents' appreciation, stating, “You see my kid, and you love them. We have some of them that are in their 70s; if you think about that, this is their first prom experience. So many of the participants, they've been here from the get-go. So the parents are just so thankful.”

Love Without Limits Dance 2

Love Without Limits Dance 2

(Credit: Video screen grab from Jason Freund)

Love Without Limits Midland

Love Without Limits Midland

(Credit: Video screen grab from Jason Freund)

Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily

The LIVE! Daily is the "newspaper to your email" for San Angelo. Each content-packed edition has weather, the popular Top of the Email opinion and rumor mill column, news around the state of Texas, news around west Texas, the latest news stories from San Angelo LIVE!, events, and the most recent obituaries. The bottom of the email contains the most recent rants and comments. The LIVE! daily is emailed 5 days per week. On Sundays, subscribers receive the West Texas Real Estate LIVE! email.

Required

Most Recent Videos

Post a comment to this article here: